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Glite Dictionary
bluffer

bluffer

4 7.0
A person who pretends to have skills or knowledge they do not have
  • noun
  • /ˈblʌfər/
translation icon : embaucador
  • A good bluffer can sell an idea even if they don't fully understand it themselves.
  • a bad bluffer
  • an old bluffer

My greatest faults, being a braggart and a bluffer, have yielded me countless advantages.

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Examples

  • "Billy's the best damn bluffer you ever saw...

    Fiction book (1999)

  • "I'm a very good bluffer," she warned us unnecessarily.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • I'll put him back, but he's a bluffer, as I said, and there are other bluffers.

  • He is an amazing bluffer, an eater of worms.

    Good Mythical Morning

  • The minute they got the separation, she went out and bought it, saying she wasn't going to give the old bluffer the chance to back out now.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • She is a talented bluffer who can easily convince others she knows what she's doing.

  • Everyone at the poker table knew he was a bluffer trying to scare them with his big bets.

Synonyms

phony
vsbluffer
  • Offensive
73 6.2

A person who pretends to have feelings or beliefs to deceive others

focuses on false inner states rather than claiming practical abilities or plans
fake
vsbluffer
  • Offensive
65 3.7

A person who pretends to be someone they are not

covers pretending about skills knowledge or intentions rather than genuine ability
charlatan
vsbluffer
  • Offensive
38 8.6

A person who says they have special skills to trick people

claims more generally about abilities intentions or knowledge to deceive
faker
vsbluffer
  • Offensive
15 5.2

A person who pretends to be someone else or lies to trick people

uses false claims about abilities knowledge or intentions specifically to mislead
deceiver
vsbluffer
13 5.5

A person who tricks others by making them believe something not true

is broader covering many deception methods including pretending abilities or intentions
duper
vsbluffer
  • Offensive
13 7.9

A person who tricks others to take their money or things

often implies deceit for gain rather than merely pretending skills or knowledge
bullshitter
vsbluffer
  • Offensive
8 9.9

A person who often lies and makes up stories to impress or trick people

intentionally claims specific abilities knowledge or intentions to deceive
pretender
vsbluffer
7 7.4

A person who lies about their job or skills to trick people

claims false abilities knowledge or intentions rather than honestly showing them
dissembler
vsbluffer
1 9.5

A person who hides real thoughts or plans by saying something else

hides inner states rather than openly claiming false abilities or intentions
tinhorn
vsbluffer
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who acts important but is not powerful or skilled

emphasizes false show of status rather than a general claim of abilities
four-flusher
vsbluffer
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who pretends to have skills or money to impress others

is the general term for claiming false abilities knowledge or intentions to deceive
shammer
vsbluffer
9.6

A person who pretends to be someone else to trick people

often fakes conditions or roles rather than merely boasting about skills
posturer
vsbluffer
  • Offensive
9.3

A person who acts to impress others rather than show true feelings

prioritizes showy behavior for effect rather than false claims of ability
pseud
vsbluffer
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who pretends to know a lot to impress others

aims to impress by cultured knowledge rather than broadly faking abilities or plans
pseudointellectual
vsbluffer
  • Offensive
8.4

A person who pretends to know a lot without real understanding

focuses on showing supposed intellect rather than claiming varied abilities or intentions
wiseling
vsbluffer
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who pretends to know things and gives bad advice

centers on false wisdom or advice rather than general deceptive claims of ability

Antonyms

truthteller
1 3.8

A person who never lies, even when it is hard

How Deceptive

con artist
40 4.8
impostor
  • UK
50 5.1
bluffer
4 7.0
pretender
7 7.4
faker
  • Offensive
15 5.2
poser
  • Offensive
26 8.0

Surface Forms

bluffer singular
bluffers plural

Morphology

bluffer = bluff (transparent) = bluff + er

Formed by adding the agentive suffix '-er' to the verb 'bluff', so the meaning 'one who bluffs' is directly predictable.

Etymology

Bluffer comes from bluff, which originally meant 'to brag' or 'to puff yourself up'. Think of someone puffing up to look stronger or more sure than they really are. That's why a bluffer is a person who pretends to have skills, knowledge, or intentions they do not actually have.